Laundry apparatus



Nov. 25, 1930. M BARNARD 1,783,147

LAUNDRY APPARATUS Filed June 16. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOF? NEAL G. BARNAFrD 6 0 M MW 'ATTORNEYS Nov. 25, 1930. N. G. BARNARD LAUNDRY APPARATUS Filed June 16. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR NEAL 6. BARNAFID 6?, Mg 6L4 MM A T'TORNE-YS Patented Nov. 25, 1930 NEAL G. BARNARD, F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA LAUNDRY APPARATUS Application filed June 16, 1928. Serial No. 285,975.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in laundry apparatus and more particularly to such a device adapted for cieansing infants diapers, and an ob ject of the invention is to provide such a device adapted to be detachably mounted upon water-closet seat and having means for detachably securing therein the soiled diapers or articles to be cleansed.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device comprising a trough-like member having means for detachably securing it to the open seat of a water-closet at an inclined position, and with one end communicating therewith, and having means at its upper end for detachably securing the diapers therein.

A further object is to provide a device for ing infants diapers, adapted to be dezhably mounted upon a water-closet seat, and having means for securing-it thereto to prevent its accidental disengagement from the water-closet while inuse, and also having means for forcibly discharging a sheet or stream of water downwardly over the diaper to thoroughly rinse and cleanse it, the refuse removed from the diaper being delivered into the water-closet.

()ther objects of the invention will appear from the following description and accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which followin the accompanying dr'awings forming part of this specification Figure 1 is a perspective View of a conventional type of water-closet, showing the 1nvention mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the device;

Figure} is a bottom view of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view, showing the means provided at the upper end of the trough-likemember for detac ably securing the diapers therein.

The novel device featured in this invention comprises a trough-like member having a bottom 2 and side walls 3, preferably integrally formed therewith. This member will hereinafter be referred to as a trough. The lower portions 4 of this trough are turned inwardly, as shown in Figure 2. A rod 5 is secured to the lower end of the trough and 1 has its terminals 6 bent outwardly to provide means for gripping the upper rolled edge 7 of the opening 8 in the water-closet seat. This rod also provides means for reinforcing the lower end of the trough, as will be seen by reference to Figures 2 and 3.

A U-shaped support 9 is pivotally connected at 11 to the side walls 3 of the trough, and its legs are engaged with notched or serrated edges-12 provided on plates 18, suitably secured to the bottom 2 of the trough, as shown in Figure 3. The serrated edges 12 provide means for retaining the support 9 in ad usted positions. The support 9 is provided with a downwardly extending or oil'- set portion 10, adapted to be inserted into the opening 8 of the water-closet and to engage the forward portion of the rolled edge 7, as shown in Figure 1. The lower portion of the extension 10 is preferably curved as shown to more securely grip the rolled edge 7 of the water-closet bowl. The support 9, therefore, co-operates with the terminals or prongs 6 of the wire 5, to retain the trough in proper position upon the water-closet. When the device is not in use, the support 9 may be folded against the bottom 2 of the trough, as shown in Figure 3.

The means provided for securing the soiled diapers or articles to. be cleansed in the device is shown in Figure 4, and comprises one or more clamping elements 14, suitably mounted upon the bottom wall 2 of the trough and normally retained in gripping position by means of suitable springs 15. Each clamp 14 is provided with an extension 16 functioning as a finger grip to facilitate opening the clamps to permit insertion ofthe article therein. By means of these clamps, the diaper may be secured in position on the bottom wall 2 of the trough, as shown in Figure 1, the clamps holding the diaper so as to lie flatly against the bottom 2.

Means are provided for discharging water under pressure against the exposed surface of the soiled diaper to cleanse it, and consists of a tubular member or pipe 17, mounted in the side walls 3 of the trough adjacent the upper ends thereof. This pipe has one end projecting through one of the side walls 3 and is provided with a nipple 18, adapted to be inserted into one end of a suitable hose connection 19, the opposite end of which is adapted for connection with a suitable source of water supply, under pressure, such for example, as the usual faucet of a bath tub or lavatory. A series of apertures 21 are provided in one side of the pipe 17, as shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4. These apertures are preferably longitudinally alined with respect to the axis of the pipe 17, and are arranged at an angle with respect to the bottom wall 2 of the trough so that water projected therefrom under pressure, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 4, will be directed against the surface of the diaper atan incline, thereby causing the deposits thereon to be flushed downwardly into the water-closet.

The lower end of the trough is formed as shown in Figures 2 and 3, so that when the device is seated upon the water-closet, the outwardly turned terminals 6 of the rod 5 will fit into the seat opening 8 and under the upper rolled edge 7, as shown in Figure 1. The support 9 is also formed so as to be in frictional engagement with the serrated-edges 12 of the plates 13, so that the support will positively be retained in adjusted positions. The depending portion 10 of the support also fits into the opening 8, thereby preventing the device from accidentally becoming detached from the water-closet seat, while in use. Because of the terminals 6 of the rod 5 projecting under the rolled edge 7 of the seat opening 8, a slight downward force or pressure may be exerted upon the upper end of the trough without danger of accidentally disengaging the device from the water-closet.

In use, the device is positioned upon the Water-closet as shown in Figure 1, and the tubular member or pipe 17 is connected with a suitable ressure fluid, as hereinbefore stated. Thd soiled diaper or other article to be cleansed is then placed flatly against the bottom 2 of the trough, and the upper edge thereof secured by means of the clamping elements 14:. The water is then turnedon, causing a sheet of water to be forcibly projected downwardly against and over the surface of the diaper, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1, thereby flushing the deposits and other foreign material from the surface of the diaper and discharging it into the water-closet. In some instances, it may be desirable to scrub the surface of the diaper with& suitable brush, while the water is flowing downwardly thereover, thereby more thoroughly cleansing the diaper.

By the eniloyment of this novel device, it will readily be seen that the operator need not soil her hands, nor even have to dip them into the water. IVhen the operation of cleansing the diapers or other articles has been completed, the device is removed from the watercloset and the support 9 folded against the bottom of the trough, as shown in Figure 3. The device may then be conveniently stored away in a comparatively small space. In use, the device is preferably mounted on a water-closet seat, as shown in Figure 1, but obviously, if a water-closet of the type shown is not available, the device may be mounted over any other suitable receptacle without departing from the scope of the invention.

In some instances, it may be desirable to eliminate the perforated pipe 17, and in lieu thereof, use an ordinary bath brush, having a perforated body adapted for connection with a water supply, whereby water may be discharged onto the surface of the diaper or other article supported in the trough, simultaneously as the brush is operated over the surface thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a member having a bottom and spaced side walls, outwardly turned projections secured to one end of said member adapted to engage an edge of an open receptacle, a support on the member also adapted to engage the edge of the receptacle and cooperating with said projections to firmly support the device in an inclined position on said receptacle, and means on said support adapted to depend into the receptacle to prevent the device from accidentally becoming disengaged from the receptacle when in use.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a meniber having a bottom and spaced side walls, projecting prongs secured to one end of said member and adapted to engage an edge of an open receptacle, a support connect ed with the intermediate portion of the member and also adapted to engage the edge of the receptacle and cooperating with said prongstto firmly support the device in an inclined position on saidreceptacle, and means on said support adapted to engage an inner wall surface of the receptacle to prevent accidental displacement of the device thereon.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a member including a bottom and spaced side walls, said walls diverging inwardly at one end of said member to reduce the width thereof and whereby one end of the member may be inserted into a closet bowl having an upper rolled edge, prongs secured to the reduced end portion of said member and adapted to be inserted under said rolled edge to retain one end of the member on the closet bowl, a support on said member for supporting the opposite end thereof, the lower portion of said support being adapted to engage the upper portion of said rolled edge, and a depending portion on said support projecting into the closet bowl to prevent disengagement of the support from said rolled edge.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of June, 1928.

NEAL G. BARNARD. 

